A student finishing a one-year program (January–August) with a study permit valid to December asked when to start a second program — the September intake right away, or January — and whether a self-chosen 4-month break counts as an "official" break. The thread gave a clean rule:
- The 150-day rule. The gap between the end of your first program and the start of your second should be less than 150 days. Stay inside that window and you remain compliant as a student.
- A self-chosen break is fine — if it fits the window. Members confirmed a voluntary 4-month break before the next program is acceptable as long as the total gap stays under 150 days. The "official vs unofficial" worry dissolves: what matters is the day count, not who scheduled the break.
- Applied to this case: finishing in August, a January intake start is roughly a 4-month gap — within 150 days — so either the September or January intake works.
- Mind your permit expiry too. With the permit valid only to December and a January program start, this student would also need a study permit extension — apply well before expiry.
- Verify on the official source. As one member put it: "The information is also available on the official website, do some digging." IRCC's rules on authorized leave and breaks in study are the authority — check the current version, since the 150-day framework is IRCC policy that can change.